Gait modifications occur even with mild to moderate unilateral knee pain: a machine learning approach using wearable sensors in the multicenter osteoarthritis study

Abstract

Purpose: Unilateral knee pain due to knee osteoarthritis (OA) is hypothesized to alter loading patterns across both knees and contribute to onset of OA in the contralateral knee. Most persons who start with unilateral knee pain from OA eventually develop bilateral OA. However, prior studies do not provide information on whether alterations in walking patterns are evident in early disease when the pain is mild or moderate. This could allow for early interventions for those at risk. Prior studies also rely on pre-selected features to describe gait characteristics that can miss important information.